Community Corner

Santa Run for Kids is Sun., Dec. 1

Organizers of the 2nd Annual Kiwanis Santa Run for Kids have plenty to be merry about this holiday season.

This year's Santa Run is scheduled for 9 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 1, with the starting line at the Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams St. in downtown Crystal Lake.

While still nearly two weeks away, registrations for the upcoming 5K Run/Walk and 1-Mile Walk in downtown Crystal Lake are bustling.

Online registrations hit the 500 mark on Monday, Nov. 18, already matching 2012's online signups, race co-chairman Mike Splitt said.

"We're about a week ahead of last year's registrations," Splitt said. "Last year, we got 500 registrations on www.signmeup.com,and then another couple hundred by race day. This year, we just hit the 500 mark last night, and we have another week to go with online registrations."

Anyone wanting to register for this festive, family-friendly 5K Run/Walk and 1-Mile Walk can register on the SignMeUp website (click here for the link).

Last year's balmy 50-plus temperatures drew over 750 participants to the first-ever Santa run that follows a route through the downtown business and residential area. 

5K participants receive a red Santa Suit (it's lightweight and easy to run in), and those signing up for the 1-Mile receive reindeer antlers. Runners and walkers bringing along strollers and friendly dogs are welcome.

This year, a 72-year-old Hebron woman has registered herself along with her 32-inch tall miniature horse, Buddy, to join in the 5K. Buddy will be pulling his owner in a sleigh.

"We had to get approval from the city for this, but we finally got it and I think the kids are going to love it," Splitt said. 

This year's registrants range in age from 1 to 87 years old, Splitt said. 

And word of the Santa run appears to have spread across state line. Some of this year's racers hale from Florida, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Utah and Georgia. 

About 12 percent of registrants are joining the 1-Mile Walk, and the remaining 88 percent have signed up for the 5K, Splitt said.

"And, surprisingly, the ratio so far is about 2-1 for women to men participants," Splitt said. "We have 350 women signed up and about 170 men." 

The Kiwanis Club of Crystal Lake hosted the inaugural Santa Run last year as a way to raise money for McHenry County organizations serving children. The more than $20,000 raised benefitted Turning Point, CASA, Girls on the Run Northern Illinois, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and Main Stay Therapeutic Riding. 

Refreshments such as water, fresh fruit and hot chocolate were served at the Raue Center, and local radio station 105.5 provided music. This year, the radio station will play holiday music near the starting line.

Find out what's happening in Crystal Lake-Carywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The starting (and finishing) line also happens to be next to Santa's House in the Brink Street Market, which provided the perfect photograph backdrop for the groups of Santas. 

Online registrations for the Santa Run will be accepted until 9 a.m. Nov. 27. In-person registrations will be taken from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30, at the Running Depot, 30 N. Williams St., downtown Crystal Lake. Race packet and santa suit pickup also will be held at the same time. 

Find out what's happening in Crystal Lake-Carywith free, real-time updates from Patch.



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